Half running, Yixiong walked towards the entrance gate of their housing complex. He really wished that Mr. Xuande was still sitting at the bus stop. With such a moving speed, it didn't take too long for Yixiong to catch up with the old man. As Zhengyi said, Mr. Xuande was still sitting on the bench at the bus stop. From afar, his body seemed to be leaning forward slightly. It seemed that Mr. Xuande was already very sleepy.

"Mr. Xuande!" Yixiong exclaimed when he was very close to the bus stop.

The old man turned. Even though the light wasn't too bright, Yixiong could still see clearly. Xuande's face looked surprised when he noticed Yixiong's presence. In an instant, the expression on the old man's face changed. He smiled and waved at Yixiong.

Yixiong sat down next to Xuande straight away.

"Good evening, Sir!"

"Good evening, Mr. Ximen. But it's already late at night."

"Mr. Dongfang told me you are sitting here because you couldn't sleep."

Xuande smiled wider. "Are you also unable to sleep?"

Yixiong did not immediately answer the question. "I feel relieved that you are still here!"

"What's wrong, Mr. Ximen? Looks like something serious is going on."

"I have something very important to discuss with you."

"Is that related to what happened earlier?"

"That's right, Sir! I hope you will spare a minute."

Xuande Zhanji pondered for a while. "Okay, Mr. Ximen. Incidentally, besides not being able to sleep, I also don't know what I should do now. Where are we going to talk?"

"Let's talk here, Sir! I think this place is even safer than our house in there."

Before starting the discussion, Xuande Zhanji looked in all directions around them. Even though they were on the edge of the highway, it didn't mean that the atmosphere there had to be crowded. It was past midnight. So, not many pedestrians are still passing by.

"Very well, Mr. Ximen. Please tell me what is on your mind."

Wasting no time, Yixiong told him what he had to say. He revealed everything from the incident of Xinxiu's abduction to the message in the package they had found in the park. Of course, as Zhongli suggested, there were many things Yixiong didn't reveal.

Xuande Zhanji listened attentively to Yixiong's speech. His eyes widened when Yixiong explained the important points of the series of events that he experienced. The old man seemed to forget the drowsiness that had hit him.

"So basically, the kidnappers asked you to replace the bag that was the container for the ransom items?"

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"That's right, Sir! Zhengyi coincidentally told me you were helping your friend who is a distributor of goods using the Maoxiongwei brand. The kidnappers asked us to look for bags with the Maoxiongwei brand."

"Do you really have to use the exact same bag? Even to use a certain brand?"

"We don't know, Sir! They sent a picture of a bag with the Maoxiongwei brand. We don't know it's only the shape, size, and color have to be the same. Or they also want a bag with the same brand."

"Are you currently carrying the photo?"

"I bring the picture, Sir." Yixiong reached into his shirt pocket. He took out a photo.

"May I see it?" Xuande Zhanji stretched out his hand.

"Please, Sir!" Yixiong gave the photo to Xuande Zhanji.

The old man immediately brought the photo in front of his face. He looked at the photo very seriously.

"The light is terrible in here. I can't see very well." Xuande Zhanji sighed. "Besides, my eyesight is also blurry."

The street lighting did not function as a reading lamp. The light that came out of the lamp was enough to illuminate the road and the bus stop. However, it was almost impossible to use it as a reading lamp. Yixiong, who was much younger than Xuande, had a little trouble seeing the bag clearly in the photo. Moreover, Xuande Zhanji, who may be the same age or older than Hongxi Gaochi, a neighbor who lives in the house which was located right next to their house.

"Maybe we should move somewhere else, Sir?" Yixiong made a suggestion.

"No need, Mr. Ximen. Although I couldn't see clearly, but in general I have an idea of what kind of bag you mean. I certainly don't know every product from the Maoxiongwei brand. I think we should contact my friend immediately."

"Thank you, Sir! I hope we don't bother you."

"Absolutely not. We are neighbors. Neighbors do have to help each other. I will help you as much as I can."

"Once again, thank you very much, Sir!"

"But it's late at night. It's impossible for us to come to my friend's place right now. So I think I'll take you there early in the morning."

"Is he okay if we suddenly show up for his help?"

"I think it's okay. He really wakes up early every day. After he wakes up, he usually does exercise, listens to the radio or reads the newspaper. So our arrival will not disturb his routine schedule."

"Thank you, Sir! I think I should go home now to rest."

"So am I, Sir. I have to go home too! At my age, I shouldn't be out too long. The night air can have a terrible effect on my lungs."

The two of them then got up from the bench at the bus stop. The frosty night air made them walk quickly as they returned home together. In a short time, they had arrived in front of Xuande Zhanji's house.

"What time do we leave tomorrow, Sir?" Yixiong really wished that they could leave so early in the morning.

"Do you think six o'clock is too early?"

Ah! This is great! I hope, after that, we still have enough time.

"Absolutely not, Sir!"

"Okay! Tomorrow we leave at six. We'll just use my car."

"Thank you, Sir!"

"I'll go in first," said Xuande Zhanji.

"Please, Sir!"

Xuande Zhanji then opened the gate of his house. As he closed the gate, he sighed.

"It's a very safe place. In my five months of living here, nothing disturbing has happened. I think this is the safest home I've had in my nearly twenty years of living in this city. It is unbelievable that something like this could happen."

Yixiong nodded. "Things like this can happen anywhere, Sir!"

"See you at six o'clock," said Xuande Zhanji.

"Good night, Sir!" Yixiong nodded respectfully.

Xuande Zhanji turned his body. He walked to the entrance of his house. After opening the door, he immediately disappeared behind the door that separated the terrace and living room of his house.

Yixiong was still standing transfixed in front of the gate of Xuande Zhanji's house. After the old man entered the house, Yixiong also didn't move from where he was standing. He pondered for a moment, thinking about what Xuande Zhanji said. It was true that the housing complex where they lived was so safe. During the one year he lived there, he had never heard of anything extraordinary happening.